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Gunman, guard shot at Holocaust museum
Gunman, guard shot at Holocaust museum
NBC News: Suspect may have ties to hate, anti-government groups
NBC News and news services
updated 11:55 a.m. MT, Wed., June 10, 2009
WASHINGTON - An elderly gunman exchanged fire with security guards inside the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on Wednesday. One security guard and the gunman were taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as James Wenneker von Brunn, 88, from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, NBC News reported. NBC said he may have had connections to hate groups or anti-government groups.
D.C. police spokeswoman Traci Hughes said the suspect walked into the museum at about 12:50 p.m. ET with a rifle and shot a guard after a confrontation. U.S. Park Police Sgt. David Schlosser says one or more guards at the museum returned fire, hitting the suspect.
Authorities said the gunman was in critical condition and the security guard was in grave condition. Both were taken to George Washington University Hospital.
A third person reportedly was hurt after being cut by broken glass.
White House reaction
The White House said President Barack Obama was saddened by the shooting and concerned about a guard who was reportedly injured.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said he told Obama about the shooting on Wednesday afternoon. Gibbs later told reporters that he gave Obama the facts as they were known at the time, shortly after shots were fired.
Gibbs says White House officials are receiving regular updates from the FBI, the Homeland Security Council and the White House Situation Room.
The museum normally has a heavy security presence with guards positioned both inside and outside. All visitors are required to pass through metal detectors at the entrance, and bags are screened.
It was not immediately known whether the gunman made it through the detectors before opening fire.
The museum, located just off the National Mall near the Washington Monument, is a popular tourist attraction. It draws about 1.7 million visitors each year.
Roads surrounding the museum have been closed and blocked off with yellow tape. Several police cars and officers on horses surround the area.
Schlosser said park police SWAT teams are doing a secondary sweep of the building, but they don't believe there is another gunman.
Students heard several shots
Sandy Perkins of Massachusetts said her daughter, Abigail, called her shortly after the shooting. The teen was on a school trip to the museum and told her mother students heard several shots before they were told to leave the building.
Abigail said some of her friends were very shaken, but all were otherwise fine, Sandy Perkins said.
The teens did not see where the shots were coming from.
Linda Elston, who is visiting the museum from Nevada City, Calif., says she was on the lower level of the museum watching a film when she and others were told to evacuate.
"It was totally full of people," Elston said. "It took us awhile to get out."
She said she didn't hear any shots and didn't immediately know why there was an evacuation leaving her feeling "a little anxious."
NBC News correspondent Pete Williams contributed to this report from The Associated Press.
URL: Gunman, guard shot at Holocaust museum - Crime & courts- msnbc.com
NBC News: Suspect may have ties to hate, anti-government groups
NBC News and news services
updated 11:55 a.m. MT, Wed., June 10, 2009
WASHINGTON - An elderly gunman exchanged fire with security guards inside the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on Wednesday. One security guard and the gunman were taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as James Wenneker von Brunn, 88, from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, NBC News reported. NBC said he may have had connections to hate groups or anti-government groups.
D.C. police spokeswoman Traci Hughes said the suspect walked into the museum at about 12:50 p.m. ET with a rifle and shot a guard after a confrontation. U.S. Park Police Sgt. David Schlosser says one or more guards at the museum returned fire, hitting the suspect.
Authorities said the gunman was in critical condition and the security guard was in grave condition. Both were taken to George Washington University Hospital.
A third person reportedly was hurt after being cut by broken glass.
White House reaction
The White House said President Barack Obama was saddened by the shooting and concerned about a guard who was reportedly injured.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said he told Obama about the shooting on Wednesday afternoon. Gibbs later told reporters that he gave Obama the facts as they were known at the time, shortly after shots were fired.
Gibbs says White House officials are receiving regular updates from the FBI, the Homeland Security Council and the White House Situation Room.
The museum normally has a heavy security presence with guards positioned both inside and outside. All visitors are required to pass through metal detectors at the entrance, and bags are screened.
It was not immediately known whether the gunman made it through the detectors before opening fire.
The museum, located just off the National Mall near the Washington Monument, is a popular tourist attraction. It draws about 1.7 million visitors each year.
Roads surrounding the museum have been closed and blocked off with yellow tape. Several police cars and officers on horses surround the area.
Schlosser said park police SWAT teams are doing a secondary sweep of the building, but they don't believe there is another gunman.
Students heard several shots
Sandy Perkins of Massachusetts said her daughter, Abigail, called her shortly after the shooting. The teen was on a school trip to the museum and told her mother students heard several shots before they were told to leave the building.
Abigail said some of her friends were very shaken, but all were otherwise fine, Sandy Perkins said.
The teens did not see where the shots were coming from.
Linda Elston, who is visiting the museum from Nevada City, Calif., says she was on the lower level of the museum watching a film when she and others were told to evacuate.
"It was totally full of people," Elston said. "It took us awhile to get out."
She said she didn't hear any shots and didn't immediately know why there was an evacuation leaving her feeling "a little anxious."
NBC News correspondent Pete Williams contributed to this report from The Associated Press.
URL: Gunman, guard shot at Holocaust museum - Crime & courts- msnbc.com
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